New Bus for London

The first double-deck bus to be purpose-designed to operate in London for two generations, the New Bus for London — popularly known as the ‘Borismaster’ entered regular public service in mid-2013. With 600 of the type either delivered or on order, the bus is destined to become a familiar sight on London’s streets but the background story to the design, development, construction and introduction of the bus is not straightforward.

Following Boris Johnson’s successful mayoral campaign of 2008, a competition to find a new vehicle design was held with the winning combination being that of the Northern Irish manufacturer Wrightbus and the designer Heatherwick Studio. With the first prototypes completed in 2011, it looked, with Boris’s old rival Ken Livingstone standing as the Labour candidate in the 2012 mayoral election, that, if Johnson lost, the entire project would be cancelled. In the event, Johnson retained the position and the future of the New Bus for London was assured.

Martin Curtis’s definitive account of the history to the project from start through to the gradual conversion of routes to Borismaster operation in 2013 and 2014 draws upon his knowledge of the bus industry from his own professional involvement. Incorporating material from many of the most important players in the story of the New Bus for London — from politicians, through the Transport for London hierarchy, to the designers and manufacturers — , the book provides a comprehensive and detailed account of the most fascinating new bus to be designed and built in Britain for more than 40 years.